Polls smooth but low turnout worries parties

Gujarat witnessed the second lowest turnout in the history of LS elections on Tuesday as lack of emotive issues, severe heat and ‘‘apathy’’ kept voters away from polling booths. The estimated turnout between 40 and 42 per cent only grazed past the figure in 1996, pegged at 35.92 per cent.

The low turnout left both BJP and Congress worried. The cadre-based BJP had hoped to use its vast organisational network to bring voters to the booth but even that did not succeed. However, BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley claimed the low turnout would not impact the party’s prospects in the state, where it still hopes to improve its tally of 21 in the dissolved Lok Sabha.

Though the mood in the Congress camp was relatively upbeat, its leaders were cautious and did not make any claims. Congress spokesperson Hasmukh Patel said: ‘‘The low voter turnout will harm the BJP’s showing.’’